March 21, 2005

(March 21, 2005) George Mason moved from eighth place after the first round to a sixth place finish at the 36-hole William and Mary Invitational. Host William & Mary (296-306=602) captured the tournament, winning the championship in a playoff with first-round leader Richmond. The 18-team field played at the par 72, 7,120 yard Green Course at the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club in Williamsburg.

Mason shot a second round 308, coupled with their first round score of 306, finished 12 strokes off the leader and one stroke behind Boston College (305-308=613). Liberty, who finished behind Mason in seventh, shot a (309-311=618).

The Patriots were led by Dan Hurley, shooting a two-day total of 151 (76-75) and a season-high 10th place finish, seven strokes off the individual medalist Boston College's Alex Snickenberger. Mike Kirby finished 13th with a (75-77=152). Nick DeSimone shot three strokes better on day two (79-76=155) and moved up individually from tied for 57th to tied for 29th. Mike Cavanagh (76-85=161) finished tied for 61st after a 22nd place finish on day one. Freshman Ryan Younger rounded out the five for the Patriots, shooting a (88-80=168).

The Mason golfers led the field as a team at the par 3's, averaging 3.06 strokes. DeSimone averaged field-best 2.88 strokes and Hurley and Kirby both averaged even par. Both Hurley and DeSimone birdied five holes each in the tournament to be among the leaders.

The golfers return to action in two weeks, April 1-3 at the Towson Invitational.

1   Wm. & Mary, Coll. of     296  306    602       +26
2   Richmond, Univ. of       294  308    602       +26
3   Maryland, U. of          300  305    605       +29
4   George Washington        305  304    609       +33
5   Boston College           305  308    613       +37
6   George Mason Univ.       306  308    614       +38
7   Liberty University       309  311    620       +44
8   St. Louis University     310  314    624       +48
     St. Joseph's Univer.     303  321    624       +48
10   St. Bonaventure U.       313  312    625       +49
      James Madison Univ.      311  314    625       +49
12   Villanova University     314  313    627       +51
13   Navy                     302  326    628       +52
14   Loyola College           312  320    632       +56
15   Drexel University        310  328    638       +62
16   Cleveland State U.       323  333    656       +80
17   Dayton, Univ. of         329  328    657       +81
DNF   Lehigh University        312  DNF

George Mason Univ.       306-308    614
      T 10    Dan Hurley            76-75    151
      T 13    Mike Kirby               75-77    152
      T 29    Nick DeSimone            79-76    155
      T 61    Mike Cavanagh            76-85    161
        87    Ryan Younger             88-80    168